By John Burton
EATONTOWN – Seven hundred-plus concerned citizens turned out in droves at the Sheraton to voice their views on the application submitted by Liberty Natural Gas to construct an importation liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that would sit approximately 16 miles off Jones Beach, Long Island, New York and roughly 26 miles off Long Branch in the Atlantic Ocean.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Administration conducted the public hearing required under federal law to allow the public to weigh in on the administration’s draft environmental impact statement for the project, released in December.
For more than 4 1/2 hours the panel heard from approximately 86 members of the public—overwhelmingly opposed, though there were supporters who offered their views–on the application submitted by Liberty Natural Gas.
State Senator Jennifer Beck (R-110) told the public and panel she has been long on record opposing this and similar plans for gas terminals. Information she had obtained indicated should there be an explosion on this type of facility holding large amounts of natural gas, “It would create a fireball that could travel up to 20 miles.”
Objectors, including members of numerous environmental groups and some federal state and local elected officials, voiced their concerns, charging the plan poses a real and present security and public safety threat, establishing a terrorist bull’s-eye target off in the area of New York Harbor; only increases our reliance on fossil fuels adding to climate change; has the potential for causing environmental disasters; and there is simply no need for it given the U.S. domestic surplus of gas, other than to financially benefit a small group of foreign investors.
“The environmental considerations are far too great,” said state Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-11), expressing her opposition to the project. “What it creates in my district is more danger.”
Liberty Natural Gas, a private for-profit Jersey City-based business concern, said this terminal would import and store the natural gas, thus helping stabilizing gas prices during heavy consumption periods, such as the cold winter months.
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) offered a written statement against the proposal, expressing many of the same fears and other objectors.
But for some business groups and labor unions it is about jobs and economic benefit.
Robert Rieche, who represents commercial divers in Union Local 1556, “It’ll be substantial work for our guys,” during the construction period, he said. “And our guys have the capability to do this type of work.
An estimated 200 union workers, of the approximately crowd of 600-700 crowd, were on hand to show their support.
The Coast Guard and Maritime Administration have extended the period for written comments from 60 to 90 days, with the deadline now March 16.
The comments will be incorporated in the final environmental impact statement and will conduct another series of public hearings when that is released, Borland said.
The final decision on Liberty Natural Gas’ application will be made by the U.S. Maritime Administrator. However, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have the ability to veto the proposal, according to Curtis Borland of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Christie vetoed a similar plan Liberty proposed in 2011 and said at that time he would contin
